If you're a person of a certain age it is likely you have heard the phrase: The grass isn't always greener on the other side. If you're of another (certain) age, that phrase likely stopped at "...greener". There's something about being a certain age that gives you the privilege to assume everyone knows what you're talking about... I digress.
Often... very often, I am told how great I must have it because of the information circulating about Meryl's Safe Haven and, sometimes, me here and there in the last year. In fact, parents might like this, Friday night was a bit special. I picked up my daughter and we went to grab dinner at a local restaurant where there was a Pulse Magazine on the rack right outside the door. I looked at my daughter and said "Who's that?!" She excitedly said, "You mama!" I jokingly said, "We're gracing covers now," and she offered me what she thought was a penny. I'm unsure if she wanted my thoughts or for me to be quiet. Either way, I let her keep her quarter - she's five, she doesn't know the difference - and we grabbed dinner. Business as usual. I am just "mama". Someday in my household I will be called "doctor". Heck, I would even take "Doc". A girl can dream, right? The point...
There will always be people who see where you are with no idea of where you've been and not realize how unglamorous the road traveled was.
Assuming you're not a new reader, you know there's a point, but if you're new here welcome to the winding road that ends at the point. In December, Meryl's Safe Haven was invited to a discussion. There were a small group of organizations, including the office of Health and Human Services, who were engaging to figure out how to standup a "Safety Net Shelter"; the door had been opened and we humbly walked in. I know I previously said, "The Wait is Over, The Work Begins"... but, honey, we hadn't scratched the surface and my body has constantly reminded me of that very message since the opening of the doors. Early in my "Who's Who of Worcester" as I talked about how I was building the organization, I had someone in the work tell me about how some days they are just, simply, celebrating with families and I couldn't relate because the grind had and has been so real.
The week of January 15th, the cleaning of the units and the set-up of beds began. The following week, we worked to "finalize" set-up which included the delivery of additional beds, several trips to the store, putting blankets and comforters on beds, purchasing other necessities with a goal of opening the doors on January 29th. I imagine you know in this moment that's not what happened. January 26th, a call comes in, really an email but it's 2024, it's the same thing... As soon as I hit "send" on my response, I immediately thought, "and so it begins". January 29th, the doors were wide open. Over the course of the week we would place nine families and I know that seems simple, right? If only. In that process beds had to be moved, more blankets had to be purchased, families needed food - not just to store in the cabinets, but to put in their stomach as soon as possible; there are a few stores in the community I know better than myself (don't dig too deep, just roll with it) because I spent so much time in them. There was one day in particular where the cars came in one after the other and we ran from unit to unit getting names, ensuring they were at the correct place, making sure everyone was accounted for, the list goes on; winter in Massachusetts and I was outside sweating! Let me add one more layer here. We are in the process of hiring, so the CEO is also working the second shift until midnight to only be up for my 5:35am workout.
Titles and accolades mean nothing if you can't roll up your sleeves to get the work done.
I know what you're thinking: Doc, it's too much! I know, I hear it from people close to me everyday but what I know for sure is this too shall pass. Every day for many organizations, including.. especially.. a new organization has its challenges. There are a lot of unknowns but everyday you survive is an opportunity to share what you've learned with someone else coming behind you while also providing you with an opportunity of reflection on where you as a leader and/or organization get better. And so this layered beginning brings about so much! And so...
the opportunity to renew yourself ...
the opportunity to evaluate yourself ...
the opportunity to give in aways you never thought were possible ...
the opportunity to be of service ...
the opportunity to connect with people ...
the opportunity to take on the perspective of others ...
the opportunity to learn ...
the opportunity to remain humble ...
begins!
The work is hard. I am exhausted. My grass is covered in snow (literally and figuratively) but even on my hardest day, I remember this is what I've been working for - not the fatigue, but the opportunity to shelter the unsheltered and be of service to others... and so it began on January 26th with a family of six, when the first set of doors opened.
One down, two more to go.